Tire Pressure Discrepancy

[Bronchette]

Howdy y'all !!
I've noticed a small, puzzling thing regarding my tire pressure communicated to me via the dashboard. Always, ALWAYS, the left rear (and sometimes the front) tire is anywhere from 2 to 5 pounds different from the right side. When I view the car from the back it looks like it's lower on the left side. Yeah, I'm sure that could be my brain playing tricks on me, but hear me out.
I had HB serviced yesterday for recalls and an oil change, tire rotation, blah, blah, blah. I told the tech about the issue and he implied it was because I sat on the left side. Even though I don't weigh that much, why would it dip on that side when I'm not in the car, but I digress.
So after servicing, I got back into the car and pulled out on the road and decided to check the air pressure since they rotated the tires. Again, the back left tire showed 5 pounds less than all three of the remaining tires.
WTH?

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[Rogerthat898]

If one side of the vehicle gets more sun than the other side this will cause the hot side to a high PSI.
As to why they read wrong after having serviced could be they didn't actually rotate the tires or did not inflate/deflate tires to correct PSI.

 

[Bronchette]

If one side of the vehicle gets more sun than the other side this will cause the hot side to a high PSI.
As to why they read wrong after having serviced could be they didn't actually rotate the tires or did not inflate/deflate tires to correct PSI.

Excellent advice about the sun heating one side but it sits in a garage. Everything else I've thought of as well. However, back when it got really, really cold and the pressure needed to be adjusted, I took it to Discount Tire and had them aired for cold weather. Before I could get home that back left tire had already dropped by 2 pounds.

 

[Mark S.]

So after servicing, I got back into the car and pulled out on the road and decided to check the air pressure since they rotated the tires. Again, the back left tire showed 5 pounds less than all three of the remaining tires.

Some shops use the tire rotation pattern suggested for front-wheel drive cars on the Bronco Sport. Even though it's an AWD vehicle, it is mainly a FWD that send power to the rear only if the front wheels lose grip. The FWD pattern moves the front wheels straight back, and crosses the rears going forward--that is the left-rear moves to the right front, and so on. If that's the case then your possibly low left-front tire was moved to the left rear, and if they didn't add air to the tire then it would still be indicating low.

 

[Bronchette]

Some shops use the tire rotation pattern suggested for front-wheel drive cars on the Bronco Sport. Even though it's an AWD vehicle, it is mainly a FWD that send power to the rear only if the front wheels lose grip. The FWD pattern moves the front wheels straight back, and crosses the rears going forward--that is the left-rear moves to the right front, and so on. If that's the case then your possibly low left-front tire was moved to the left rear, and if they didn't add air to the tire then it would still be indicating low.

I was thinking about that rotation pattern and forgot to ask them which they used. I did send them an email this morning regarding something else and included my query on the tire rotation service. Waiting to see what 'they' say.

 

[Bronchette]

So my Ford rep just responded to me and asked that I come by so they can check it out. I have to say, this dealership is really good regarding trying to do right by their customers. Let's hope it stays that way down the line when issues might become worse or problematic.

 

[Mt Goat]

Are you testing with an actual tire pressure gauge to see if that the car says is accurate? It could be that a sensor is reading off.

 

[Dude]

A ‘23 outer banks is probably too new for the built-in non-replaceable battery to go bad in the tire sensor and if the low pressure reading is always the same tire no matter its rotation location, then the prior post about a defective TPMS Sensor in that tire could be the issue.

however another owner reported the same problem and turned out it was not the tire Sensor - oddly the dealership replaced the control module (said it was the ECU but I’m not sure which module controls the TPMS).

in any case, the dealership will fix the issue within the 36 month/36k miles factory warranty.

FYI: how to reset the TPMS:
https://www.broncosportforum.com/forum/threads/new-wheels.11930/post-200426

 

[Dude]

Btw, if you want to know your Tire Pressure but your don’t want to walk out to the vehicle you can use this trick with the FordPass App:

https://www.broncosportforum.com/forum/threads/fordpass-app-“tricks”-to-share.11924/post-200308

 

[Bronchette]

Update: So I took HB to the dealership and the rep was honest with me and said he wasn't absolutely sure the mechanic rotated the tires. They took HB back and I watched as they checked all the tires for damage, etc., and corrected their air pressure to match what the dashboard communicated. True enough, when I got back into HB to go home, all tires were reading 36 pounds. When I got home (45 minute drive) the left rear sensor dropped by 1 pound. All-in-all, if this is my only worry, I'm not gonna complain. There are others here who have had much worse issues. I will be checking the link out provided by Dude and do more research on the TPMS. Here's a funny ♫, my Forrester's cruise control would not work if there was any idiot light on. Thank goodness HB doesn't do that. I can handle a low tire sensor as long as the rest of the car is still working. Well, as long as Sheldon's not in the car pointing it out. LOL!!

 

[Dude]

Good to hear the mystery behind the tire pressure was resolved, I suspect these the things aren’t done as often as we hope during The Works service: fluids aren’t filled, tires aren’t rotated and properly inflated, brake pads aren’t checked, the “35-point” inspection isn’t getting done.

I had a Subaru Forester as well … dreaded the symphony of idiot lights accompanied by cruise control that stopped working, hill assist shut off etc. Twice due to the battery failed and at least 3 times with sensors that failed once leaving us stranded requiring a 105 mile tow.

 

[Bronchette]

I had a Subaru Forester as well … dreaded the symphony of idiot lights accompanied by cruise control that stopped working, hill assist shut off etc. Twice due to the battery failed and at least 3 times with sensors that failed once leaving us stranded requiring a 105 mile tow.

Wow!! I didn't have all that happen, but I HATED that stupid low tire pressure idiot light! There were other things my Forrester disappointed me about and the main reason I now have HB. I read somewhere on the Subaru forum, if you want good electronics, go to Best Buy.
I can't imagine being stranded like that. I had a Buick that stranded me so many times in a week that I refused to get in the car any more.
Others here have mentioned brand integrity, but I say, these days, most all brands acquire some parts from the same provider. Basically, that weak link in the chain can be in any vehicle brand. Choose what makes you happy.

 

[Chiefthepup]

Not to be that guy but I would be curious if they really did rotate. When I worked as a lube tech for a stint, I can’t begin to tell you how many times I was told to skip rotation if the tread matched all around, purely to save time. Plus my last two “rotations” I know they didn’t cause I marked the brake dust on the fronts with my finger and it came back with both fronts with same mark and brake dust haha

 

[Bronchette]

Not to be that guy but I would be curious if they really did rotate. When I worked as a lube tech for a stint, I can’t begin to tell you how many times I was told to skip rotation if the tread matched all around, purely to save time. Plus my last two “rotations” I know they didn’t cause I marked the brake dust on the fronts with my finger and it came back with both fronts with same mark and brake dust haha

Since HB only has 10K on him, I've only had the oil change/tire rotation done twice. The first time, I sat and watched them do it. The second time, HB was never in the 'tire' section of the garage. With that said, I wasn't going to be "that gal" who questioned the service I didn't 'see' them do. There's alot I don't see, but that doesn't mean it wasn't done. However, to your point (and the rep I spoke to), I don't think the tires were rotated.

 

[ATLAS BLUE BADLANDS]

Consider the dash PSI readout a good refeence. Always check your pressure with a good gauge or have it checked.

As for tire rotations - not really needed on an AWD car in correct alignment - love that on our Subaru the tires wear the same all the way around roatated or not. I expect the same of the Bronco Sport. However if service choses to rotate them no problem.

Even on 4wd trucks I do not rotate, when 2 are that badly worn generally time to replace all 4 anyway.

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